The Orioles have acquired 31-year old righty swinging OF/DH/1B Mike Morse from the Seattle Mariners for 23-year old lefty swinging outfielder Xavier Avery. Morse played in 76 games for the Mariners this year and he was 64 of 283 (.226 avg, .693 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 13 homers and 27 RBIs. He has now played in 561 games in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 520 of 1,829 (.284 avg, .816 OPS) with 230 runs scored, 83 homers, 272 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Avery played in 120 games in AA+AAA-ball for the O’s this year and he was 118 of 455 (.259 avg, .686 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 3 homers, 35 RBIs and 29 stolen bases. Avery did play in 32 games for the Orioles last year in which he was 21 of 94 (.223 avg, .645 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 1 homer, 6 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Morse gives the Orioles another big bat for the stretch run. I love this pickup for the Orioles.

The Baltimore Orioles have acquired 28-year old righty starting pitcher Bud Norris from the Astros for 23-year old righty swinging outfielder L.J. Hoes, 19-year old lefty starting pitcher Josh Hader and a 2014 competitive balance draft pick. Norris pitched in 21 games (all starts) for the Astros this year and he was 6-9 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Norris has given up 135 hits and 43 walks while whiffing 90 batters in his 126 innings so far this year. Norris has pitched in 119 games (118 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 34-46 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Norris will replace the struggling Jason Hammel in the starting rotation and it should be a nice upgrade for the Orioles. L.J. Hoes came into this season as the Orioles’ #6 prospect according to Baseball America. Hoes played in 1 game for the Orioles this year and he was 0 for 3 (.000 avg, .000 OPS). Hoes also played in 99 games in AAA-ball for the O’s this year and he was 111 of 365 (.304 avg, .808 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 3 homers, 40 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Hoes played in 3 games in his two years with the Orioles and he was 0 for 4 (.000 avg, .000 OPS). Hader came into this season as the Orioles’ #19 prospect according to Baseball America. Hader pitched in 17 games (all starts) in A-ball for the Orioles this year and he was 3-6 with a 2.65 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. The Orioles paid full price for Norris, but they are in a win now mode, so I think this improves their chances of making the playoffs in 2013.

The Orioles have acquired 31-year old righty reliever Francisco Rodriguez from the Brewers for 21-year old lefty swinging 3B/1B Nick Delmonico. Rodriguez pitched in 25 games (0 starts) for the Brewers this year and he was 1-1 with 10 saves, a 1.09 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. Rodriguez only gave up 17 hits and 9 walks while whiffing 26 batters in his first 24 2/3 innings for the Brewers this year and those are impressive numbers. Rodriguez has now pitched in 707 games (0 starts) in his first 12 years in the majors and he is 39-35 with 304 saves, a 2.64 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Rodriguez is currently tied for #21 in Major League History in saves (with Jeff Montgomery) with his 304 saves. Delmonico came into this season as the Orioles’ #4 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 60 games in A-ball for the Orioles this year and he was 55 of 225 (.244 avg, .822 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 13 homers, 50 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Rodriguez didn’t come cheaply as Delmonico is a legit prospect, but he will help the Orioles at the back end of the bullpen the rest of the way in 2013.

The Baltimore Orioles have designated 1B/3B/DH Russ Canzler for assignment. Canzler played in 86 games in AAA-ball for the Orioles this year and he was 89 of 323 (.276 avg, .799 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 11 homers, 49 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Canzler last played in the majors in 2012 with the Indians. He has played in 29 games in his first two years in the majors and he was 26 of 96 (.271 avg, .700 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 3 homers and 12 RBIs. Canzler might not clear waivers.

UPDATE: (7/13/2013) – The Orioles have dealt Russ Canzler to the Pittsburgh Pirates for 24-year old righty reliever Tim Alderson. Alderson pitched in 29 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Pirates this year and he was 4-1 with 2 saves, a 2.43 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. He has given up 44 hits and 12 walks while whiffing 55 batters in his first 55 2/3 innings in the majors so far this year, which are solid numbers. Alderson has now pitched in 180 games (90 starts) in his first seven years in the minors and he is 43-25 with 5 saves, a 4.00 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. I like this deal for the O’s as Alderson was a very highly thought of prospect not too long ago.

The Baltimore Orioles have acquired 24-year old righty swinging 3B Alex Liddi from the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations. Liddi played in 8 games for the Mariners earlier this year and he was 1 for 17 (.059 avg, .229 OPS) with 0 runs scored, 0 homers and 0 RBIs. He also played in 59 games in AAA-ball for the Mariners this year in which he was 63 of 240 (.263 avg, .776 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 11 homers, 43 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Liddi has now played in 61 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 36 of 173 (.208 avg, .636 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 6 homers, 16 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Liddi has a lot of power, but he also has a lot of holes in his swing as evidenced by his 73 whiffs against only 13 walks so far in his major league career. This was a nice low risk move for the Orioles, as Liddi could help them down the road.

The Baltimore Orioles have acquired 30-year old righty starting pitcher Scott Feldman and 27-year old lefty swinging catcher Steve Clevenger from the Chicago Cubs for 27-year old righty starting pitcher Jake Arrieta, 28-year old righty reliever Pedro Strop and cash considerations. Feldman will move right into the Orioles’ starting rotation. He pitched in 15 games (all starts) for the Cubs this year and he was 7-6 with a 3.46 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Feldman has now pitched in 219 games (116 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 46-50 with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Clevenger played in 8 games for the Cubs this year and he was 1 for 8 (.125 avg, .347 OPS) with 1 run scored. He also played in 15 games in AAA-ball for the Cubs this year and he was 17 for 52 (.327 avg, 1.022 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 3 homers and 11 RBIs. Clevenger has now played in 79 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 42 for 211 (.199 avg, .537 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 1 homer and 16 RBIs. Clevenger will start his career with the Orioles in AAA-ball.

Jake Arrieta has talent, but he was a bust for the Orioles. He pitched in 5 games (all starts) for the Orioles this year and he was 1-2 with a 7.23 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP. He pitched in 69 games (63 starts) in his four years with the Orioles and he was 20-25 with a 5.46 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Pedro Strop was also having a rough time for the Orioles in 2013. He pitched in 29 games (0 starts) for the Orioles this year and he was 0-3 with a 7.25 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. Strop pitched in 111 games (0 starts) in his three years with the Orioles and he was 7-5 with 3 saves, a 3.30 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.

Will Feldman make the Orioles’ rotation better? Probably. But I think the should have aimed higher for a rotation upgrade than Scott Feldman. He has had some struggles pitching in the A.L. in the past in his career.

The Baltimore Orioles have acquired 26-year old lefty swinging outfielder Eric Thames from the Seattle Mariners for 24-year old switch-hitting 2B/3B/OF Ty Kelly. Thames played in 57 games in AAA-ball for the Mariners this year and he is 64 of 217 (.295 avg, .861 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 7 homers, 33 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Thames last played in the majors in 2012 for the Mariners and Blue Jays. He has played in 181 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 158 of 633 (.250 avg, .727 OPS) with 85 runs scored, 21 homers, 62 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Thames will start his career in AAA-ball for he Orioles when he recovers from a fractured left hand. Ty Kelly came into this season as the O’s #30 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 72 games in AA-ball for the O’s this year and he was 80 for 283 (.283 avg, .771 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 1 homer, 47 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Kelly played in 515 games in his five years in the minors for the Orioles and he was 545 of 1,924 (.283 avg, .759 OPS) with 287 runs scored, 21 homers, 239 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. This was a good deal for the Orioles as Thames will likely be able to help them out later on in 2013.

The Orioles have dealt 29-year old righty swinging catcher Chris Robinson to the San Diego Padres to a player to be named later. Robinson played in 29 games in AAA-ball for the Orioles this year and he was 26 of 108 (.241 avg, .546 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 0 homers and 5 RBIs. This isn’t much of a loss for the Orioles as Robinson was a backup catcher in AAA.

The Baltimore Orioles have acquired 27-year old lefty swinging 2B/3B/SS Josh Horton from the Oakland A’s for either a player to be named later or cash considerations. Horton played in 16 games in AAA-ball for the A’s this year and he was 15 for 67 (.224 avg, .620 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 2 homers and 8 RBIs. He has now played in 578 games in his first seven years in the minors and he is 612 of 2,233 (.274 avg, .719 OPS) with 309 runs scored, 25 homers, 260 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. Horton might get his first shot at the show at some point in 2013, as 2B has been a black hole for the Orioles so far this year.

The Orioles have acquired 28-year old righty swinging 3B/SS Brandon Wood from the Royals for cash considerations. Wood played in 16 games in AAA-ball for the Royals this year and he was 14 of 53 (.264 avg, .700 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 2 homers and 7 RBIs. Wood last played in the majors back in 2011 with the Angels and Pirates. Wood has played in 272 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 130 of 700 (.186 avg, .513 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 18 homers, 64 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Wood has whiffed 218 times while only walking 32 times so far in his major league career. Wood will have to play really well in AAA to get a shot at some point in 2013 with the Orioles. He was once one of the most highly thought of prospects in all of baseball, so he could potentially be a late bloomer.

UPDATE: (7/26/2013) – The Orioles have released Brandon Wood. Wood played in 48 games in AAA-ball for the Orioles this year and he was 39 of 181 (.215 avg, .559 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 2 homers and 23 RBIs.